Adaptation 'is key' to water management

Forum told flooding expected to worsen

- APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

Thailand must urgently upgrade its flood and water management systems as climate change intensifies extreme weather, experts warned at the Water Resilience Forum 2026 on Monday.

Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University and founder of the Water Resilience Centre, told the forum that around 600,000 people in Thailand are considered highly vulnerable to disasters, often struggling to find safety during floods.

He said post-flood recovery costs typically consume about 80% of household savings, creating long-term financial hardship.

"We can no longer deny that future floods will be more severe," Mr Witaya said. "But by combining local knowledge with advanced technology and innovation, we can reduce the impacts. Urban residents must learn to live with water instead of fighting it. Adaptation is essential."